StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, founded in 1925, is Germany’s oldest political foundation, and its scholarship programme is one of the country’s most established routes for talented students who combine academic excellence with social engagement. The international programme — Grundförderung and Promotionsförderung für Ausländer:innen — supports students from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the former CIS states and eastern and south-eastern Europe, at any state or state-recognised university or Fachhochschule in Germany, in any subject. Around 40 international scholarships are awarded each year according to current guides, from thousands of applicants, so this is a highly competitive award where the motivation and engagement evidence matter as much as grades.
The programme’s design explains its unusual rules. Because FES scholars join a seminar programme and a network, and are expected to take part in the Foundation’s life, the Foundation looks for people already embedded in Germany: applicants are expected to be studying in Germany already, and the 15-month residency limit at application (with exemptions) keeps the cohort at a similar stage. The application itself is in German only, and German at B2 is required even if your degree programme or dissertation is in English — a rule that surprises many applicants who assumed an English-taught Master’s would exempt them. It does not.
Benefits
- Monthly stipend: EUR 992 a month for students, flat and not means-tested, in the latest guide. Older pages list EUR 934, EUR 850 (Master’s) and EUR 750 (Bachelor’s) — the article leads with the current EUR 992 figure and reports the older figures as superseded, not as alternatives you can choose between.
- Doctoral funding: EUR 1,500 a month in the latest guide, normally for three and a half years, extendable in justified exceptional cases to the final examination at the latest.
- Health insurance: health insurance costs are covered for students, with a contribution towards statutory insurance for doctoral candidates.
- Child allowance: EUR 255 a month on the German programme page, EUR 276 on the English summary page — the article states both and tells you to confirm the current figure on the official page, since the two published figures disagree.
- No repayment, no tuition line: the scholarship does not have to be repaid. Tuition fees are not listed among what FES covers — but most German public universities charge no tuition, only a semester contribution, so the stipend plus insurance is effectively full living-cost funding for most recipients.
- Seminar programme and mentoring: scholars join a comprehensive seminar programme, receive mentoring, and are expected to submit a semester report on academic performance and social participation each term.
- What is not covered: flights to Germany are not covered, and you must already be in Germany to fit the programme’s design. Any income above EUR 400 a month is credited against the stipend.
Who can apply
- Region: international students from the Global South (Asia, Africa, Latin America), the former CIS states, and eastern and south-eastern European states. Nationals of OECD states — including the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan — are excluded from this international route.
- Already studying in Germany: the programme is designed for students already enrolled at a German university or Fachhochschule, who have not been in Germany longer than 15 months at the time of application, with exemptions. If you are still in your home country, this is not the right FES route.
- Outstanding academic merit: strong school or university results, with first graded proofs of academic achievement where required.
- Social and political commitment: proven social and political involvement and commitment to the values of social democracy — freedom, justice and social cohesion — plus responsible, motivated and reliable character and willingness to engage with the Foundation’s network. This is a scored criterion, not a formality.
- German at B2: sufficient German is required even if your courses are in English, and the application itself is in German only. Other guides cite higher certificates (DSH Level 2, TestDaF Level 4, Goethe C1) — the article states B2 as the programme’s stated minimum and warns you to confirm the certificate actually accepted for your case on the official page.
- Degree levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Diplom, Staatsexamen and doctorate. Doctoral applicants need an unconditional admission to doctoral study at a German university.
Documents required
- The online application form first: FES operates a two-stage process. You complete the online application form; if you are eligible, the Foundation requests additional documents from you by email. Do not assemble a full file before that screening step and do not expect a single published checklist to replace the Foundation’s request.
- Academic records — transcripts and certificates showing your outstanding merit, with first graded proofs where required — requested at the document stage.
- Evidence of social and political engagement — the material that proves your commitment to social-democratic values and your involvement in your community or organisations.
- Proof of enrolment at a German university and, for doctoral applicants, unconditional admission to doctoral study, plus German-language evidence at the required level.
- A motivation account setting out your academic path, your engagement, and why FES’s programme fits you — the document on which the engagement criterion is largely judged.
How to apply
- Confirm you fit the international route: eligible region, already studying in Germany within the 15-month limit (or an exemption), German at B2, and genuine social and political engagement to evidence.
- Complete the online application form on the FES website (in German) for the correct deadline: 30 November 2026 for a Master’s scholarship for the winter semester, or 31 May 2027 for the summer semester. Bachelor’s and doctoral applicants follow the programme’s timing rules instead of these fixed dates — check the official page for your category.
- Wait for the Foundation’s response. If you are eligible, FES requests additional documents by email; the full review can take several weeks to a few months, and shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview (in person or by video).
- If selected, accept the scholarship and follow the acceptance instructions, including the semester reporting duty and seminar participation.
- There is no application fee. If anyone asks you to pay to apply for FES funding, it is not the Foundation.
FAQs
30 November 2026 for Master’s scholarships for the winter semester, and 31 May 2027 for the summer semester. PhD candidates may apply at any time, and Bachelor’s applicants follow timing rules rather than a single fixed date — check the official page for your category.
EUR 992 a month for students in the latest guide, and EUR 1,500 a month for doctoral candidates, plus health insurance costs and a child allowance (EUR 255 on the German page, EUR 276 in the English summary). Older figures of EUR 934, EUR 850 and EUR 750 appear on older pages and are superseded. Nothing is repayable, and income above EUR 400 a month is credited against the stipend.
Not on this international route as summarised in current guides: the programme is designed for students already studying in Germany, not longer than 15 months in Germany at application (with exemptions), and flights are not covered.
Yes. German at B2 is required even if your programme or dissertation is in English, and the application itself is in German only. Some guides cite higher certificates, so confirm the accepted evidence on the official page.
Nationals of OECD states, including the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan, are excluded from this international route. German students apply through a separate FES route.
No. The FES scholarship application is free of charge.
Highly competitive: current guides report up to 40 international scholars selected annually from thousands of applicants. Strong academics, authentic social engagement and a compelling motivation account are what distinguish winners.
Verified 29 Oct 2026 against the latest programme guide (Master's deadlines 30 Nov 2026 winter / 31 May 2027 summer; Bachelor's and doctoral timing rules instead of a fixed date; students EUR 992/month flat, doctoral EUR 1,500/month, 3.5 years as a rule; health insurance covered for students; child allowance EUR 255 German page vs EUR 276 English summary; German B2 accepted without a certificate, application in German only; residency not longer than 15 months with exemptions; income above EUR 400/month credited; Global South, former CIS and eastern/south-eastern Europe eligible, OECD excluded; flights not covered; no repayment) plus the Bright Scholarship page and other guides agreeing on the 30 Nov 2026 winter deadline, any state/state-recognised university or Fachhochschule, all subjects, up to 40 awards a year, and the online-form-then-documents-by-email route. CONFLICTS: (1) Stipend figures conflict across vintages (EUR 992 current vs EUR 934 / EUR 850 / EUR 750 older) - the article leads with the current figure and labels the rest superseded. (2) Child allowance is EUR 255 on the German page but EUR 276 in the English summary - both are stated. (3) German evidence conflicts (B2 minimum vs DSH 2 / TestDaF 4 / Goethe C1 in other guides) - the article states B2 as the programme minimum and warns applicants to confirm. (4) One aggregator claims the programme is 'run by DAAD' - rejected; FES is an independent foundation, and DAAD does not run it. (5) 'Fully funded' is used in the title as the queue title, but the article clarifies the precise scope: stipend plus insurance, no tuition line published, no flights, and a semester contribution may still apply.
